Lighting apparatus



Sept. 23, 1930. MURRAY Er AL 1,776,476

LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1928 Patented Sept. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE enema menus, or LONDON, nm'vzcron owmw sn lrxms, or BARNES, Lennon, ENGLAND LIGHTING APPARATUS 1 Application fled November 10, 1928, Serial No. 818,898, and in Great mmm' November 10, 1921.

. This invention relates to lighting apparatus, and has for its principal objects to provide an a paratus whereby satisfactory diffused an pleasing-illumination of decorative uality may be obtained. 0

A further ob ect of the invention 1s to provide a lighting ap aratus whereby continually changing lig ting effects may be obtained, and this object is achieved by providing a source of li ht, a transparent or translucent hollow bo' y containing liquid, and means for generatin or releasing gas within said hollow body, t e whole arrangement being such that light from the source passes into and through the liquid within said hollow body and is diffused through and from the walls thereof. The arrangement is such that changing light effects are produced by the moving bubbles of as. Preferably the liquid within the hol ow body is an electrolyte and the means for generating gas comprise electrodes whereby the said electrolyte may be dissociated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighting apparatus whereby graduated and artistlc colour changes may be obtained, and this object is achieved by adding dissociatlng it to lucent enclosure constituted a chemical indicator to the liquid within the hollow body, the indicator, liquid and released gas being so chosen that more or less localized colour changes occur in theneighbourhood of the gas bubbles, owing to the action of the indicator.

Yet another object of the invention is to rovide a li hting apparatus which shall e capable 05 being employed as an advertising medium, and this object is achieved by providing electrodes within the liquid for generate gas and making one or both of the electrodes in the form of a word or design to be advertised. The elec trode or electrodes so formed may be readily arranged to be prominent, and, if the dissociating current be chosen of suitably hi h value, the said electrode or electrodes will stand out as an. illuminatedbody or bodies within an illuminated trans arent or transy the liquid retaining hollow body. The electrode or electrodes are also illuminated by the source of light thus causing the advertising display to stand out prominently.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighting apparatus which, in ad dition to giving any or all of the illuminating advantages hereinbefore mentioned, shall be of air freshening quality, and this object is attained by dissociating the liquid electrolytically and allowing the oxygen and ozone thereby released to escape into the surrounding air.

Other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear.

The invention is more completely described in the following specification accompanied by drawings, in which Fi re 1 shows schematically a simple form 0 advertising illuminating'device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows in outline a large multiple unit illuminating device in accordance with the invention, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an minating device in accordance with the invention and arranged to be energized by alternating current.

Referring to Figure 1, a lighting apparatus comprises an electric lamp 1 concealed within a vertical Surrounding the lamp is a reflector 3 adapted to throw the light upwards into a comparatively large spherically shaped vessel 4 of smooth clear glass which top of the casing and closes it in. Contained within the glass vessel and almost filling it is an electrolyte 5. Located at the base of the glass vessel is a pair of electrodes 6, 6',

- for. example, of platinum, either or both of which may be shaped to form a word or an advertising sign or other desired design. The electrodes are connected in series with the lamp between a pair of terminals 7 which may be located in any convenient the connections not being shown in Figure 1 for the sake of clearness. Although the electrodes are illustrated as being located at the base of the vessel, it is to be understoodthat it is onlynecessary that they be located at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid, that is at a distance sufiiciently below the surface that the path over which the hubillupillar-shaped casing 2.

is located at the position,

bles move from the electrodes to the surface of the liquid will be lon the movement of the bubiles clearly visible. There is added to the electrolyte a suitable quantity of a dye and/or an indicator, such as will give a esired colour to the li u1d and/or effect a desired colour change w en electrolytic action is set up by passing a current between the, electrodes. Such colour change may be efi'ected around the electrodes or more or less throughout the solution and will be of a nature depending mainly upon the indicator and electrolyte chosen.

If desired, comparative permanence of the electrolyte, either during use or storage,

ma be ensured by means of a buffer electro yte, the uses and natures of which will be well known to those skilled in the art.

In use, when a current is passed between the electrodes (which are preferably connected in series with the lamp), the electrolyte is dissociated and gases generated, and since some of the gas is strongly alkaline, its action will produce colour changes, due to the indicator in the electrolyte, which colour changes will be more or less localized to the gas bubbles in question. There will, moreover, be set up a circulation in the liquid, and this, combined with the moving colours (for example, golden yellow and pink, if a change from an acidic to an alkaline liquid is effected by electrolysis in an electrol te containing methyl orange), and the di used light, produces an exceedingly pleasing decorative efl'ect, while diffusion of the light through the sphere of li uid results in satisfactory lighting of com orting intensity and colour. A small hole such as that indicated at 11 should be left in the top of the sphere to facilitate refilling with liquid and to allow of the escape of gas.

In one arrangement, in which an orange red colour (without material colour change) was obtained, platinum electrodes were cmof eosin and erythosine with a pinch of ordinary Glauber salts.

In another case, platinum electrodes were employed in conjunction with an electrolyte consisting of water, to which were added small quantities of fleuroscin and phenol hthalein, and a pinch of Glauber salts. is case gives a general green colour with a change to red in the neighbourhood of the hydrogen electrode under the action of electrolysis.

In some cases the water which comprises part of the electrolyte contains entrained small particles of metallic dust and chance matter in suspension and these particles when illuminated by the rays of light from the light source appear as points of glittering light.

igure 2 shows a more elaborate installation comprising'a plurality of illuminating enough to renderployed in water containing small quantitiesdevices in accordance with the invention, the said installation comprising a plurality of tubes T each containing electrolyteand electrodes, and a spherical vessel V also containing electrolyte and electrodes. Lamps (not shown) are arranged in the pedestal P and the ca K of the device and shine into and throug the tubes and globe. If desired, the various electrolytes may be coloured difierently and/or contain indicators adapted to give different colour changes under electrolytic action. In view of the description already given of Figure 1, it is not now thought necessary to show .or further describe the electrode arrangements in the. tubes and globes.

Where a lighting apparatus is intended for use in alternating current, the required electrolytic action and evolution of gas may be obtained from a combination suitable for effecting rectification of the applied alternating current, anda lamp or lamps may be connected to those electrodes delivering rectified current; for example, lead or iron cathodes and anodes of pure aluminium may be employed in conjunction with an electrolyte comprising borax, sodium bicarbonate and ammonium phosphate.

Figure 3 shows a circuit arrangement for in apparatus of this kind in diagrammatic orm.

Referring to this figure, the lamp 1 is connected across the source of supply 8 through a switch 9, the electrodes (e. g. tantalum and lead) being connected to the secondary of a step-down transformer 7 whose" primary is connected across the mains through a switch 10. Obviously, if desired, the switch 9 may be dispensed with. A convenient secondary voltage for the transformer 7, and one which has been satisfactorily employed in practice, is 12 volts.

In the claims which follow, the term translucent is to be deemed to include both translucent and transparent devices, while the term design electrodes is intended to refer to electrodes specially formed to an advertising, artistic or other design.

. What we claim is 1. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light difi'using electrolytic liquid, means mounted in cooperative relation to said body for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diflused therethrough, electrodes within said liquid, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for electrolytically dis- 125 sociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving changing light effects, said electrodes being disposed ata substantial distance below the surface of the liquid.v

2. Decorative lighting apparatus com- 130 trable body electrodes within said liquid, and means dissociating said liqui changingreaction with operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for to generate gas bubbles and thereby give changing light effects, said electrodes bein disposed at a substantial distance below t mg in combination, radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light diffusing electrolytic liquid, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is;diffused therethrough, means in the direct path of said light forming a predetermined design located within' said radiator at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid and comprising electrodes, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for electrolytically dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving changing light effects.

4. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light diffusing colored electrolytic liquid, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused therethrou h, means in the direct path of said light iorming a predetermined design located within said radiator at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid and comprising elec-,

trodes, and means 0 erable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for electrolytically dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving changing light effects.

5. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source'of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light diffuslng electrolytic liquid containing a chemical indicator, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused from the walls thereof, electrodes within said liquid, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for,dissociatin said liquld to generate gas bubbles, there y producinga color said chemical indicator to give color changing light effects, said electrodes being disposed at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid.

6. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of light, a li ht radiator consistin of a light-penetra le "b odycontainin e surface of the liquid. 3. Decorative lighting apparatus compris- A a source of light, a light a light difi'using electrolytic liquid, means or so directing light from said source into said li ht radator that itis difl'used from the wal s thereof, electrodes within said liquid in the direct path of said light and at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid, one of said electrodes being formed 'into a predetermined design, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for. electrolytically dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving changing li ht effects.

7. Decorative in in combination, a source of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light diffusing electrolytic liquid contalning a chemical indicator, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused from the walls thereof, electrodes within said liquid in the direct path of said light and at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid, one of said electrodes being formed into a predetermined design, and means operable to close. an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles having a color changing reaction with said chemical indicator, thereby giving color chang)ing light effects.

ighting apparatus comprisl ecorative'lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source oflight, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light difiusing electrolytic liquid, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused therethrough, means in the direct path of said light forming a predetermined design located within said radiator at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid and comprising rectifying electrodes, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for electrolytically dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving chan%ng light effects.

ecorative' lighting apparatus compris-' ing in combination, a source of light, a li ht radiator consisting of a light-penetra le body containing a li ht diifusing electrolytic liquid containing a c emical indicator, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused from the walls thereof, rectifying electrodes with in said liquid in the direct path of said light and at a substantial distance below the surprising in combination, a source of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light diflusing electrolytlc liquid having small particles in sus enslon, "means for so directing light from sai source into said light radiator that it is diffused therethrough, means in the direct path of said light formin a predetermined design located within sai radiator at a substantial w distance below the surface of the liquid and comprising electrodes, and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for electroly'tically dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby giving changing light efiects.

11. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of light, a light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light difiusing electrolytic liquid having small particles in suspension and containing a chemical indicator, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is diffused from 5 the walls thereof, electrodes within said liquid in the direct path of said light and at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid and means operable to close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby producing a color changing reaction with said chemical indicator to give color changing light elfects,

12. Decorative lighting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of light, a

light radiator consisting of a light-penetrable body containing a light difiusing colored electrolytic liquid containing a chemical indicator, means for so directing light from said source into said light radiator that it is difiused from the walls thereof, electrodes within said liquid in the direct path of said light and at a substantial distance below the surface of the liquid, and means operable to 5 close an electric circuit through said electrodes and liquid therebetween for dissociating said liquid to generate gas bubbles, thereby producing a color changing reaction with said chemical indicator to give color changing light effects.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names this 31st day of October, 1928.

GEORGE MURRAY. VICTOR OWEN SIMPKINS. 

